Sunday night, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers to become the 2018 World Series Champions! The two teams played an exciting 5 -games series, ending in a Red Sox victory. Did you watch the game with your host family? If so, did you know that you were one of the 30 million people that tuned in to see the Red Sox make history? Did you also know that before 2018, it had been 30 years since the LA Dodgers played in the World Series? or that a team hasn't won 108 games (like the Red Sox did this season) since 1986? WalletBase.com did some research and created this infographic to show these statistics and other facts about the World Series. If you're interested in learning some lesser-known info about Major League Baseball's annual championship, we put together some of the best fun facts:

The Players (and their salaries):

It’s no surprise that a career as Major League Baseball player is a very lucrative profession. The highest paid player on the LA Dodgers, Klayton Kershaw makes $35.57 million a year and earns about $220,800 every inning he pitches. The highest paid player on the Red Sox, David Price, earns $30 million a year and about $170,500 every inning he pitches. The LA Dodgers team salary is $196.6 million, and the Red Sox team salary is $224.8 million. That’s a lot of $$$$!

Viewership

Whether you’re a baseball fan or not, if you’re in Boston you probably watched at least one game of the World Series. Typically the last game of the World Series draws close to 30 million viewers (approximately 29.3 million for game 7 last year). The World Series as a whole was seen by 18.9 million people in 2017 and 13.7 million people this year.

Ticket Sales

As you might have guessed, tickets to the World Series don’t come cheap. Any baseball super fan at Dodgers Stadium or Fenway Park during Game 1 of the World Series paid at least $321 for their seat according to WalletHub. That number is cheap in comparison to last year ’s game 5, where $828 was the cheapest ticket price. It is estimated that the average ticket prices for the 2018 World Series games in Boston and Los Angeles were $1,290 and $1,965 respectively. This is similar to last year’s stats, where the average price of a ticket to the 2017 World Series was over $1,000.

Ad Revenue

Tickets might be expensive, but the real money is in TV ad revenue. Corporations spend an average of $6355,000 for a 30-second commercial during the World Series (not bad compared to the 5 million+ dollars spent on a 30 second SuperBowl Ad). It is projected that ad revenue totals $58.1 million for each game beyond the minimum of four. Fox, TBS, and ESPN will have paid a total of $12.4 billion for the broadcast rights to the World Series from 2014 to 2021. In 2017 the total ad revenue generated by the World Series was $414 million, this year’s World Series most likely generated less, having only 5 games instead of 7.

If you want to cheer on Boston's favorite sports team as they celebrate their World Series win, check out the Boston Red Sox Parade this Wednesday, October 31st!

With October 31st right around the corner, it’s time to get into the Halloween spirit. If this is your first-time spending October in Boston, you have to take advantage of the fun, festive, and free Halloween happenings in the city. Celebrating Halloween is a great way to spend time with your host family while experiencing a part of U.S. culture that may be very different from your home country. Here is your guide to some of the exciting Halloween-themed activities happening this week!

See Some Costumed Canines

Attention animal lovers! There are two opportunities this Halloween to see a lot of dogs decked out in some hilarious, adorable, and creative costumes. Visit the Charles River Esplanade or Faneuil Hall Marketplace this Saturday to get in the Halloween spirit with some festive pups!The 8th Annual Canine Promenade is a half-mile parade along the Charles River for Bostonians and their pets. Admission is free for those who just want to spectate (and maybe pet some puppies). The Halloween Pet Parade at Faneuil Hall is another celebration for owners and their furry friends. During this parade registered participants have the chance to walk the red carpet for a panel of judges and compete for awards like Best of Show, Best Owner and Pet Combo, Most Creative, and Spookiest. Both events are from 12 pm – 2 pm, but if you’re feeling ambitious, why not attend both? After all, you can never have too many dogs in your life!

Discover Spooky Halloween Decorations

One unique way to explore the city is to go on a hunt for the best Halloween decorations. Many homes in the Boston area go all out for Halloween, turning their house and lawn into an elaborate Halloween scene. The Jack-o’- lantern Journey at Franklin Park Zoo is one example of a Halloween wonderland, featuring a half-mile trail of 5,000 glowing, carved pumpkins.Beacon Hillis another part of the city that looks magical during Halloween. Residents illuminate their homes with festive lights paired with cotton cobwebs and other spooky decorations. The Boston Globe published an article about other addresses where home owners have gotten into the Halloween spirit. Maybe you’ll recognize some of the decorated homes near you!

Pumpkin Palooza

The Lawn on D’s annual event is back again with more Halloween fun for all ages. Pumpkin Palooza features a lot of free events: like pumpkin carving, a costume parade, a magic show, fire dancers, and a juggling performance just to name a few. There will be live music performances by Angelo David, Aldous Collins, and Entrain at night, as well as a cash bar for those 21+. Kids and adults alike can ride around the lawn on a train, passing through the pumpkin tunnel or stopping to photograph their costumes in the photo booth. Pumpkin Palooza takes place this Saturday, October 27th with festivities beginning at noon until the evening.

Trick- or -Treating

The best way to experience Halloween in the U.S. is to go trick -or- treating! Ask your host family to take you trick- or- treating in your neighborhood. Trick-or-treating is a fun way to experience a U.S. tradition while exploring your homestay community and getting some candy! Most neighborhoods in the Boston area will have trick-or-treaters out on Halloween night, but you can always visit a different area if your town isn’t a great trick-or-treating spot. The South Boston Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Trick-or-Treating Event on East and West Broadway Street Halloween night from 4 pm- 6 pm, where local residences and businesses will be passing out candy. Remember to dress in your Halloween best! Ask your host family for help creating your costume.

Day of the Dead

The Mexican holiday, El Dia de Los Muertos, takes place at the same time as Halloween. Though the two holidays have some similarities. Day of the Dead is not the same as Halloween in Mexican culture. Day of the Dead is a celebration of deceased family members. On this day observers demonstrate love and respect to lost ancestors through rituals and celebrations filled with cultural symbolism. Across Mexico, participants wear special makeup and costumes, have parades and parties, sing and dance, and make offerings to lost loved ones. Day of the dead is a three -day celebration from October 31st to November 2nd. The Mexican community in Boston hosts many events in honor of this holiday, such as the 3rd Annual Dia de Los Muertos Festival and Parade at the Veronica Rubles Cultural Center in East Boston. This event will feature a cultural parade as well as activities from 2 pm – 7 pm on Saturday, November 3. Admission to the festival is free.

We hope you have a safe and happy Halloween! Share your creative costumes, favorite candy, and all your Halloween activities with us by using #HomestayBoston or tagging @globalimmersions!

Salem, the Massachusetts city infamous for the 1692 witch trialsis the perfect destination for a spooky weekend excursion. Salem in October is full of festive activities to get you in the Halloween spirit and out of Boston for a day! When planning your Salem trip itinerary, be sure to make time to visit these seven spots.

While Salem might be known for its “witches” it also has a beautiful waterfront that should not be overlooked. Salem Willows is a public, seaside, park offering scenic views and the world’s best popcorn along with a popular arcade and carousel ride. While you're there, stop by nearby Pickering Wharf - another location along the Salem waterfront that has adorable shops and tasty restaurants.

The Salem Witch Museum is probably the most famous museum in Salem. The Witch Museum gives visitors a life-like retelling of Salem's 17th-century history, featuring stage sets with wax figures, lighting, and narration to present an accurate depiction of the Salem Witch Trials. The current exhibit, "Witches-Evolving Perceptions", draws parallels in history between the "witches" of 1692 to the Japanese-Americans encamped during WWII and the blacklisted Communists of the 1950s. The Museum is open daily with extended hours in October.

This historic home was built in 1668 and was once owned by serval prominent maritime families. The home is perhaps most well known for being famously chronicled in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel of the same name. If you're visiting Salem, check out the House of Seven Gables for a guided tour...and decided for yourself if it’s truly as haunted as the stories say.

Another famous Salem home, the Salem Witch House, is the only remaining structure in Salem with direct ties to the Witch Trials. The home was once inhabited by Judge Jonathan Corwin, one of the Salem residents investigating the claims of witchcraft in 1692, and one of the people partly responsible for convicting 20 people of witchcraft. It is said that many of those convicted could have been interrogated by Corwin right in the homes living room. Visitors to Salem can stop by for both guided and self-guided tours.

Salem has several night-time walking tours that allow you to learn the town's history in an informative yet terrifying manner. The Salem Witch Walk and Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour are two popular options. On the Witch Walk, witches take you on a tour of the Salem seaport, while on the Ghost Tour guests are taken through the haunted areas of Salem's streets.

It wouldn’t be Halloween time without candy! If you’re looking for something sweet and less spooky, head to Harbor Sweets to stock up on all the goodies you need for October 31st. All the candies and chocolates inside are handmade, so you know you’ll be trying authentic New England treats.

How Should I Get There?

If you're planning to visit Salem from the Boston area, you can take the Commuter Rail Newburyport/Rockport Line to Salem.

If you’re living in the Boston area this fall, you may have noticed the leaves changing colors over the past two months. Fall foliage has come a bit later this season compared to recent years, due to above average moisture and temperatures this summer, however, the colors are expected to be just as beautiful. To make sure you don’t miss out on seeing peak fall foliage this summer SmokyMountains.com released its annual interactive fall foliage forecast map, to forecast when and where leaves will turn their best colors.

What kinds of colors will I see?

According to experts, peak colors will arrive slightly later in 2018, due to “heavier precipitation and warmer temperature trends expected through September”. The weather in September will also impact the colors of foliage you see. September is a critical month as “crisp days combined with plenty of sunshine” throughout this month will produce the best colors. Aside from the weather, the colors you see are also dependent on the type of tree. Beech trees, hickories, tulip poplars, and birch trees have mainly yellow and orange leaves while sumacs, sweet gums, sourwoods, mountain ashes scarlet oaks, red maples, and some sugar maples have red leaves.

When will colors peak in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts specifically, foliage is expected to reach its peak around October 15th (next Monday!) and some areas of the state where the leaves peaked in the previous week are forecast to be “beyond peak”. Only small areas of Southern states will remain unchanged by this date.

Where can I go to see the best fall colors?

You don’t have to travel too far to see some quality fall foliage. While perhaps the most trees are located outside the city, several areas in the Boston area have colorful trees that are worth seeing. Here are a few spots to check out:

Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge

Mount Auburn is one of the oldest landscaped cemeteries in the country and has a wide variety of different trees that are beautiful in fall. While you’re there you may like to take a guided foliage tour to explore all areas of the cemetery, such as the lookout tower, where you can have an amazing view of many Boston landmarks, such as the Zakim bridge and Harvard Stadium. Mount Auburn Cemetery is accessible by car or MBTA bus 71 and 3.

Arnold Arboretum, Boston

The Arnold Arboretum is located in the middle of Jamaica Plain and has 281 acres of different plants and foliage. Fun fact: The Arboretum was designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, the same designer of New York City’s Central Park. With miles of bike trails and footpaths the Arboretum is also an ideal place for bike riding or running, especially on a warm fall day like the ones we have been experiencing.

Beacon Hill, Boston

Spending time in Boston’s smaller neighborhoods can be a good way to see some incredible fall colors. To explore Beacon Hill, start at Charles Street and make your way down the neighborhood's cobblestone streets, stopping in any little boutiques and shops along the way. You’ll be able to see autumn leaves as well as an area of the city you may have never visited before.

The Charles River Esplanade, Boston & Cambridge

The Esplanade has over three miles of walking paths along the Charles River, bordered by an array of fall trees. The Charles River is a relaxing place to go to enjoy autumn nature and see one of Boston’s famous waterfronts. To stroll the esplanade, start by the Museum of Science and walk in the direction of the Boston University Bridge where you can cross over to Cambridge. Alternatively, enter the Esplanade from the Boston-side of Massachusetts Avenue and take in the scenery from one of the nearby docks.

What is Columbus Day?? If you’re not familiar with this U.S. federal holiday you can read about its originshere. If you've spent the holiday in Boston before, you'll know that the most exciting part of Columbus Day is taking a mini-vacation away from school. If you’re a student in the Boston area you probably know that Columbus Day means you have an extra-long weekend, which also means you now have extra time to explore the city! Lucky for you there are a lot of fun events happening things weekend and many of them are free. Here are some ways to spend the upcoming long weekend in the city.

Head to East Boston Sunday afternoon to experience Columbus Day in the city. Watch and enjoy the annual Columbus Day Parade that has occurred in Boston since 1937. The parade will begin at 1:00 pm in the Suffolk Downs parking lot and will march down Bennington Street, ending at Maverick Square near the waterfront. The parade will feature local organizations as well as veterans groups and can best be viewed from the sidewalk along Bennington Street.

You might be familiar with the Boston area restaurant, the Chicken and Rice guys. Maybe you've seen their food truck on campus? Well, did you know that they are hosting a free event at the Medford Condon Shell this Saturday? The event will feature live funk, soul and R&B music from local artists as well as free Chicken and Rice Guy's food. The party's main event is their 5th annual ChickyRice eating contest and the Extra Hot Sauce Challenge, where the top contestants can win free Chicken and Rice Guys for a year. If you LOVE chicken and rice or have a high tolerance for spicy food you can sign up for the contest on their event page, however, it might just be fun to watch the other contestants compete.

The HONK! festival returns this year to Somerville, for even more music, performances, and celebration. HONK! is a 3-day street band festival, where musicians from all over the U.S. (wielding a variety of brass and percussion instruments) play throughout the city's streets, with no sound speakers or stage to separate them from spectators. HONK! creates an immersive experience as the musicians play among the audience and invite them to join the fun. The festival kicks off Friday night with a lantern parade and band showcase in Davis Square neighborhoods. Then, on Saturday, over 25 bands take over Davis Square for a giant music and dance party, followed by a parade of musicians and local activist groups on Sunday. This event is a great opportunity to engage with members of the Boston community while enjoying live musical performances and the beautiful fall weather.

The Institute of Contemporary Art, normally closed on Mondays, will open on Columbus Day and offer free admission. This is a great opportunity to visit the ICA Watershed, the museum's seasonal space in East Boston, before it closes for the winter. On Monday visitors at the ICA can participate in special events and activities (like art making and short films) as well as view all of the museum's current exhibitions. This is a perfect time to visit the museum if you haven't been able to make your way there on a Thursday when museum admission is normally free.

The Manhattan Short Film Festival, an annual film festival of international short films, received thousands of entries from more than 70 countries this year. Of those entries, on 9 finalists were chosen. These 9 films were then screened over 1,000 times in theaters in more than 250 cities on six continents between September 27th and October 7th. On October 6th, those in the Boston area have the opportunity to see these films during a screening at the Museum of Fine Arts. Viewers are invited not only to watch the films but also to judge them! On entry to the theater, you are given a ballot card to vote for your favorite short film and actor. Your votes are sent to Manhattan Short's headquarters and the winner will be announced on Monday! You can watch the event trailer here.

Spend your day off exploring Boston's Fenway neighborhood at the Opening Our Doors Event sponsored by the Fenway Alliance. Enjoy free activities like a neighborhood walking tour, live musical performances, art installations, an interactive community mural, craft making, and a rhythm and dance parade. The event begins at 10:00 am at 200 Huntington Avenue/Avenue of the Arts with a performance by Boston's Children's Chorus, a New Orleans-style front line parade, and free cupcakes from Oakleaf Cakes! Following the event kick-off, a complimentary trolley will bring attendees to activities at key locations such as Evans Way Park and the Museum of Fine Arts.

We hope you take advantage of this holiday to explore Boston and are we are excited to see how you'll spend your day off. Share your long weekend activities with by using #HomestayBoston or tagging @globalimmersions!